Alimony / Spousal Support

Divorce Lawyer in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Efficient, Results-Oriented Alimony and Spousal Support Representation for Clients Throughout Tennessee

Whether you are contemplating ending your marriage or are already a party to a divorce, you may have concerns about spousal support or alimony.

Is alimony automatically granted in divorce proceedings in Tennessee?

If not, how does the court determine when alimony is warranted?

If the court makes a determination that spousal support is necessary, how does the court determine the amount, frequency and duration of payments?

Attorney Angela C. Larkins, in Chattanooga, handles all matters related to divorce, including issues involving spousal support or alimony. She has a thorough understanding of the laws governing alimony in Tennessee and an extensive financial background that helps her clients make better informed decisions regarding alimony or spousal support. Contact her office to schedule an initial consultation.

The Availability of Alimony in Tennessee

No party is automatically entitled to alimony. In Tennessee, an order for alimony or spousal support is purely discretionary, based on the court’s determination of the parties’ need and ability to pay. Among the factors the court will consider are:

The length of the marriage

The age and health of the respective parties

The earning capacity of each spouse

The disparity in income

The lifestyle to which the parties are accustomed

Attorney Larkins will work with you at all stages of a divorce to help you determine whether alimony is warranted and, if so, how much should be paid and for how long. She will help you identify all assets and sources of income, so that an alimony order fairly and fully considers the financial position of both parties.

Spousal Support Orders in Tennessee

In Tennessee, different types of alimony exist for different situations and purposes. The court may ordershort-term alimony, which will be in place for a limited period of time, allowing the receiving party to make the transition from a two-income household to a one-income household. The court can grantrehabilitative alimony, will allows a party to receive spousal support for the period of time necessary to complete education or training and become self-supporting. In limited situations, the court may awardlong-term spousal support, essentially a long-term maintenance, where the health or age of the receiving party makes it unlikely or impossible for that person to be self-supporting.

Attorney Larkins will work closely with you to help determine which type of order is appropriate. She will also handle all proceedings seeking alimony pendente lite, where the court orders temporary alimony to sustain a party in paying household bills and expenses until the divorce is finalized.